THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

r arrival and rejoiced in a childlike manner that love again had its free course .... We drove [from Pastva] to Rudnerweide to the Blocks. Block had left to visit old Mr. Wiebe [cf. ‘Brotherhood’; he had likewise previously been an outstanding member of the ‘Temple Church’ of that time]. We also went there and were warmly greeted by Mrs. Schroeder [Wiebe’s foster daughter] and were invited up to Abram Wiebe, who in a very cordial manner asked us to be seated. While we were conversing, three other men who also loved the Lord came to join us. We had a spiritually enriching time and were obliged to stay for tea. We sang and th ank ed the Lord, and were invited to return soon. We received the impression that the church must pray constantly that such individuals may be brought together into one body .... “May the Lord keep us in a childlike faith in Him and His Word, and grant us humble hearts to love only Him.” Christian Schmidt Jakob Jantz” XXV. (2) RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT: A QUESTION REGARDING THE DIRECTION TAKEN BY THE M.B. CHURCH WITH RESPECT TO THE REFORMS AND DECISIONS OF 1865 AND THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE LOVE "TOWARD ALL BELIEVERS” 1. We see that the church as typified by these her representatives (#196) bears hardly any resemblance to the time when she was under the strong leaders and rulers during the “mad year” (the fall of 1864 to the spring of 1865). The sympathy that was now extended to her— the author has very clear recollections of this fact— was like a broad stream. All those of the Mennonite Church who were not fanatical in their §197 454 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH hostility (amongst them many earlier “brethren” as well as many friends and relatives of those who had left the church) breathed more freely now that the foolishness and the unseemly behavior during church services, as well as the proud intolerance of the group, had come to an end, even though their original desire for spiritual perfection was unquestionably sincere. The members of the Mennonite Church were, after all, very close neighbors and even blood relations, and had a common confessional base with the Brethren. As already indicated, Claassen’s success in the land issue in the Kuban had won him much sympathy. Huebert, who had been held for questioning and investigation, but who had just recently been released, was greatly beloved by a considerable majority of the “Mennonite Brethren Church” 245 and also enjoyed a great deal of love and respect from many of those who had not left the mother church in contrast to the small group of the temporarily domineering “overly joyous” and “strong.” His imprisonment worked so strongly in his favor, that a flood of sympathy, love, and adulation arose so that those in society who were most hostile to him were forced to tone down their opposition. It is important to recognize that the congregation in Liebenau, which to that point had been quick to persecute (s